The document provides an overview of construction industry statistics for April 2015. Unemployment rates decreased overall but increased in construction. Housing permits and starts increased from the previous month but decreased compared to a year earlier. Nonresidential construction material prices decreased slightly from the previous month while spending increased year-over-year. Industry confidence indexes showed growth for sales expectations, profit margins, and staffing levels.

1. 0
5
10
Construction Vital Statistics April 2015
at a Glance
Unemployment Rate
(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
9.4%5.4%
Overall
Current Month Year-over-Year
Construction
6.2% 7.5%
Housing Permits & Starts
(U.S. Census Bureau & Dept. of Housing and Urban Dev.)
TOTAL PERMITS
Current Month:
10.1% vs.
1 yr. Earlier: 6.4%
TOTAL STARTS
Current Month:
20.2% vs.
1 yr. Earlier: 9.2%
Nonresidential Construction Material Prices (Producer Price Index)
By the
Numbers: Current Month: -0.1%
Nonresidential Construction Spending (U.S. Census Bureau)
Construction Backlog
Indicator
(Associated Builders & Contractors/4th Quarter 2014)
8.7 vs. 1 yr. Earlier: 8.3
Construction Owner
Confidence Index
(Associated Builders & Contractors/1st Half of 2014)
Readings above 50 indicate growth
SALES EXPECTATIONS
rose from 63.2 to 68.2
PROFIT MARGIN
EXPECTATIONS
expanded from 57.5 to 60.0
STAFFING LEVEL
INTENTIONS
moved higher from 62.2 to 65.0
Year-over-year change: -5.1%
March 2015: -0.1% Year-over-year change: 4.7%
vs.
vs.

2. April 2015 at a Glance
Readings above 50 indicate growth, while readings below 50 are unfavorable.
Any Architecture Billing Index Score above 50 signifies growth - it is a leading economic indicator that provides an approximately nine to 12 month glimpse into the future of nonresidential
construction spending activity.
It is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by
a full year. Since reaching bottom in July 2011 at a level of 77.1 (2000=100), the index has been trending up.
Rates as of mid month.
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
4th Qtr.
1st 1/2 ‘14
Construction Backlog Indicator (Months)
Current Backlog
Backlog from a year ago
Construction Owner Confidence Index
Sales Expectations
Profit Margin Expectations
Staffing Level Intentions
National Unemployment Rate
Overall current month
Overall year-over-year
Construction current month
Construction year-over-year
Arizona Unemployment Rate
Overall current month
California Unemployment Rate
Overall current month
Nevada Unemployment Rate
Overall current month
National Housing Permits and Starts
Permits - Total
Permits - Total from twelve months earlier
1 - Family - change from previous month
1 - Family - change year-over-year
5 + Units - change from previous month
5 + Units - change year-over-year
Starts - Total
Starts - Total from twelve months earlier
1 - Family - change from previous month
1 - Family - change year-over-year
5 + Units - change from previous month
5 + Units - change year-over-year
West Housing Permits and Starts
Permits - Total
Permits - Total from twelve months earlier
1 - Family - change from previous month
1 - Family - change year-over-year
Starts - Total
Starts - Total from twelve months earlier
1 - Family - change from previous month
1 - Family - change year-over-year
Nonresidential Construction Material Prices
Current Month
Change year-over-year
Nonresidential Construction Spending
Previous Month
Change year-over-year
AIA - Architecture Billing Index
Dodge Momentum Index - Commercial Building
Interest Rates
I-Month LIBOR
WSJ Prime Rate
5 Year US Treasury Rate
10 Year US Treasury Rate
Dec. ‘14
68.2
60.0
65.0
Jan. ‘15 Feb. ‘15
5.6%
6.7%
8.3%
11.4%
6.6%
7.1%
7.0%
-1.9%
1.0%
4.5%
8.1%
-12.4%
-9.9%
4.4%
5.3%
7.2%
7.9%
-4.2%
0.3%
-20.5%
-17.9%
7.0%
4.1%
5.8%
3.5%
15.8%
21.6%
-1.7%
-1.9%
-1.0%
4.0%
52.2
138.0
0.1635%
3.25%
1.28%
1.76%
Mar. ‘15
8.7
8.3
5.7%
6.6%
9.8%
12.3%
6.6%
7.0%
7.1%
-0.7%
8.1%
-3.1%
5.8%
3.3%
13.8%
-2.0%
18.7%
-6.7%
16.3%
12.1%
24.5%
16.8%
26.4%
-6.7%
-2.8%
-3.4%
21.7%
-3.0%
5.3%
-2.1%
-4.6%
0.4%
5.9%
49.9
134.3
0.1682%
3.25%
1.48%
2.00%
The information within this table has been compiled from multiple data sources, including the Associated Builders & Contractors, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Department
of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Producer Price Index. This information does not purport to be complete or all inclusive. For more information, please
visit each source site.
Apr. ‘ 15
5.5%
6.7%
10.6%
12.8%
6.5%
6.7%
7.1%
3.0%
7.7%
-6.2%
2.8%
19.9%
15.0%
-17.0%
-3.3%
-14.9%
0.7%
-21.6%
-9.50%
2.2%
16.3%
5.6%
13.6%
-18.2%
10.1%
-9.1%
10.4%
0.4%
-4.9%
-2.0%
4.8%
50.4
138.0
0.1721%
3.25%
1.41%
1.93%
5.5%
6.6%
9.5%
11.3%
6.2%
6.5%
7.1%
-5.7%
2..9%
2.1%
4.1%
-16.0%
1.6%
2..0%
-2.5%
4.4%
-2.7%
-7.1%
-4.7%
-4.3%
9.9%
-2.0%
13.2%
-19.3%
-2.0%
-2.7%
5.8%
0.8%
-3.6%
-0.1%
4.6%
51.7
134.2
0.1756%
3.25%
1.31%
1.87%
5.4%
6.2%
7.5%
9.4%
10.1%
6.4%
3.7%
7.1%
20.0%
4.5%
20.2%
9.2%
16.7%
14.7%
31.9%
-0.5%
3.0%
3.4%
6.0%
22.5%
39.0%
14.9%
22.2%
13.5%
-0.1%
-5.1%
-0.1%
4.7%
48.8
134.0
0.1807%
3.25%
1.38%
2.13%
6.0%
6.3%
7.1%